Chiropractic Care and Older People

Key elements: mobility and strength

• Mobility is necessary for strength-building exercises.
• Some strength is required to enable mobility for a sustained period.
• Leg strength is important for fall-prevention in the elderly *. Chiropractic can help you to continue your leg exercises by decreasing pain and increasing range of movement in your body.
• Dizziness can reduce confidence needed to exercise. Chiropractic has been shown to help reduce dizziness **. As dizziness decreases, balance and confidence will improve, thus making it easier to exercise.

Chiropractors can advise you about a healthy lifestyle

• Chiropractors look at al aspects of health including nutrition, exercise and medication.
• Looking after your general health will help you to prevent many chronic conditions. This is what chiropractors advocate.
• There is always room for improvement at any age.
• The body responds quickly and favourably to even very slight positive changes.

*Campbell AJ, Borrie MJ, Spears GF. Risk factors for falls in a community-based prospective study of people 70 years and older. J Gerontol Med Sci 1989;44: M112-117

**Hawk C, Cambron J, Pfefer T. Pilot study of the effect of a limited and extended course of chiropractic care on balance, chronic pain, and dizziness in older adults.

   Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics 2009; July/August: 438-447